social media mistakes engagement drop fix low reach
You then post regularly, use hashtags and create what you think is killer content. So, why does your social media engagement keep falling flat? If this resonates, chances are you are making common mistakes without realizing it that are back-firing your growth.
This article will cover the top 7 social media mistakes that migh be ruining your engagements, and surprisingly, they are easier to fix than you think. And don’t worry if you’re guilty of one or more. You’re not alone. Step Inside How To Fix It With A Few Tweaks
Not Taking Your Audience’s Needs into Consideration
You may be so obsessed with your own company’s messaging that you lose sight of your desired growth — the audience who are going to propel its upward trajectory.
- The the hidden error: Speaking at your audience, not to them. One of the most fatal mistakes that brands could commit is posting generic content without thinking of what their followers are actually willing to see. The gap between your mission and your messaging can lead to disconnect and disengagement — and next thing you know, you’re staring at crickets.
- The solution: Listen to the conversations your audience is having. What are their pain points? What do they care about? Gather feedback with polls, surveys and comments. So, by tailoring your content to your audience’s interests, you’re making it a relevant proposition and improving overall engagement.
- For example: BuzzFeed became a household name because they paid attention to the demands of their audience — from fun lists, engaging quizzes, and niche news.
The Flip Side of Overposting (Yes, It Is Possible!)
We know you are always told how important being consistent with social media is, but there is a fine line between being active and oversaturating your audience.
- The problem: Overwhelming your followers with too many posts in a short period leads them to scroll past your content. This thing you’d read about known as “content fatigue.”
- The solution: Aim for quality, not quantity. Most platforms tend to favour 3-5 posts per week. Test and watch for the best times on which to post, and tweak the frequency until you reach the sweet spot.
- How to: In a HubSpot study, overposting resulted in a decrease in engagement of 35%. Striking that balance so that your content isn’t so new that it has no tummy to chew.
Failing to Use Analytics (You Are Losing Money!)
If you wouldn’t run your business without monitoring your financials, why would you do so with your social media strategy?
The mistake: Neglecting social media analytics or not allowing them to inform your strategy. Most of the time creators do not map what works in performance metrics such as engagement rates, reach and audience demographics, skipping out on data that can help elevate their content strategy.
The solution: Leverage platform’s native tools (such as Instagram Insights, Facebook Analytics and Twitter Analytics) to identify what’s working. Go all in on what’s working with your audience and get rid of what’s not.
Even Facebook reports your targeted demographic from which you can find out your most popular products — Case Study: Rachel of The Green Thumb Shop By changing her content to focus more on plant care tips, her growth and engagement grew 40% in just two months!
Mistake #5: Posting Without a Clear Call to Action
While a picture can be said to be worth a thousand words, if you don’t have a strong call to action (CTA), your audience won’t know what to do next.
- The error: Posting without telling your followers what to do. From liking commenting to sharing or clicking a link — CTAs are integral to directing the actions of your audience.
- The fix: Put a CTA in every post, even if it’s a low-key one. Questions such as “What do you think?”, “Tag a friend who needs to see this” or “Click the link in bio” that can prompt action and increase engagement.
- Case in point: Starbucks likes using plain CTAs like “Order now” or “Tell us your favorite drink” to stimulate real-life interaction. These engagement prompts make followers feel included!
Using Low-Quality Visuals
It doesn’t matter how great your content is if the visuals are lackluster.
The error: Sharing blurry images or bad graphics can make your content seem amateurish and undermine your credibility. Given the visual-first nature of social media, it stands to reason that quality visuals are integral.
The fix: Buy good equipment or use Canva or Adobe Spark to create visuals that look professionally shot. This, in turn, helps readers quickly identify your content consistently, which allows you to create your brand identity and, as such, keep your audience engaged.
Expert tip: Buffer’s studies show that posts with images get 650% more engagement than posts without. Ensure that the visuals adhere to the tone and message of your brand.
Not Getting Involved With Your Community
Social media is a dialogue and two-way street that many brands and influencers neglect to participate in — many don’t reply to comments, questions, and DMs.
- The mistake: Not looking at how followers interact with your posts. If you are not replying to comments or ignoring DMs, you are notdoing well by your audience.
- The fix: Spend time daily engaging with your followers. Respond to comments, engage in meaningful conversations, and show your receipt of feedback. Your audience wants to know that they’re being heard.
- Case touchstone: Lush Cosmetics is one other model doing community engagement accurately. By actively responding to comments and caring about customer feedback, they’ve established a loyal and wildly engaged audience.
Refusing to Work for Change
All social media platforms are evolving and so must your approach.
The mistake: Continuing with the same formula instead of experimenting with new ideas. What worked last year may not work today. Social media trends and algorithms have a tendency to shift quickly; what powered up your competitors today might become old news tomorrow.
The fix: Make a habit of testing new types of content: attacks around stories, live videos, reels, user-generated content, and so forth. Test out what works for your audience then adjust your strategy based on what you learn.
Be flexible and seek new formats, Neil Patel, social media expert. As an example, short-form video content (i.e., TikToks and Instagram Reels) has spiked engagement across platforms.
Mistakes You Might Be Making Accepting Data
If you are shaking your head yes to these social media mistakes, you aren’t alone. The positive news is that it’s simpler than you believe to correct. Choose one or two shifts to do today, and you’ll probably see a difference in your audience engagement.
Time to Take Action!
After learning about the biggest social media mistakes that ruin your engagement, it’s time to halt them right here. So stop making these mistakes, once and for all! Experiment with your content strategy, with how you engage more with your followers, with monitoring your results, and do it today. Become a social media pro and watch your engagement soar!
